Advice On Raising Teen Month Toddlers

by tamarawilhite

posted on 10/21/2009

The late teen months (13-19 months) are in some ways more difficult than the terrible twos. For example, their verbal comprehension is less than a two year old while their understanding of the risks and rules are non-existent. They'll understand "bring that here", but perhaps not the item name. They'll understand that shaking their heads means they don't want it, but may not realize that the same applies if you do it. What else do you need to know when dealing with the terrible teen (months) of toddler-hood?

1. Your child doesn't care if she is wearing the same sandals from Target as her friends, nor does she care if she's wearing Baby Gap clothes. You don't need to go buy designer clothes. Aim for easy to get on and off for when your toddler gets messy.
2. Taking each other's shoes off is fun. Trying to put on other baby's shoes is a neat game. Label their shoes as you label favorite toys with their initials so that everyone comes home with what they arrived with.
3. When your child takes something and plays with it, get excited and say "Very good!" when they put it back. Make putting it back something they see that you are glad to see. It's the easiest way to instill the idea that items have a place and that the child should put it there. In the long run, you'll have fewer fights when teaching them to pick up later on if they already have an idea that they should put things in their place.
4. Pointing at things comes before the question "What's that?" Pointing does not necessarily indicate, "I want that". If you play naming games with your toddler when they point at things in the store, no matter how eagerly they indicate they want it, they will learn two lessons. First, they'll learn more words. Second, they'll learn that they won't get what they want by pointing and desiring.
5. "Don't do that!" doesn't mean much at this age. When they are mid-action of the undesired action, slap them gently on the hand and say "No." Kids this age don't understand verbs, much less forbidden actions.
6. Kids begin imitating at this month. Be careful what you do and the gestures you make. If they see Uncle Joe making a certain gesture, you might see them making it too.
7. If your reaction is horror or amusement, then you know they'll do it again for the reaction. Therefore, if your child utters a bad word or does something that is outside acceptable behavior, be calm but firm in teaching them NOT to do that again.
8. Door and drawers previously existed to be opened. Now it is fun to close them, too. Make sure that if you're on the other side of a door, you have it unlocked or the means to unlock it.
9. Peek-a-boo and hide and seek do not end when you decide to leave the room. If you go to the restroom and your toddler was playing that game, your child has no idea that opening the door and yelling out to the world they found you is at all inappropriate.
10. When your pediatrician says its time to switch to a toddler bed, do it. If your kid falls out of the toddler bed, it's an ouch. If they fall over the edge of the crib, it's a broken bone.

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